Ceiling suspension

ABSTRACT

A CEILING SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR SUPPORTING CEILING TILES INCLUDING A LONGITUDINAL FRAME MEMBER HAVING AN UPSTANDING WEB AND LATERALLY EXTENDING TILE SUPPORTING FLANGES, AND TRANSVERSE FRAME MEMBERS HAVING PAIRS OF TONGUES AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, THE TONGUES OF EACH PAIR BEING OPPOSITE OFFSET AND BEING ADAPTED TO EXTEND THROUGH SLOT MEANS IN THE VERTICAL WEB OF THE LONGITUDINAL   FRAME MEMBER, THE TONGUES HAVING OPPOSITELY PROJECTING ELEMENTS THEREON ENGAGEABLE BEHIND OPPOSITE EDGES OF THE SLOT MEANS FOR RETAINING THE TRANSVERSE FRAME MEMBER WITH RESPECT TO THE LONGITUDINAL FRAME MEMBER.

p 1971 D. L. ROUSEY CEILING SUSPENSION Filed March 26, 1970 g. mm. m, m

@arra usey fimmj/m United States Patent 3,606,417 CEILING SUSPENSION Donald L. Rousey, Des Plaines, Ill., assignor to Questor Corporation, Toledo, Ohio Filed Mar. 26, 1970, Ser. No. 22,810 Int. Cl. F16b 7/00 US. Cl. 287189.36 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A ceiling suspension system for supporting ceiling tiles including a longitudinal frame member having an upstanding web and laterally extending tile supporting flanges, and transverse frame members having pairs of tongues at opposite ends thereof, the tongues of each pair being oppositely offset and being adapted to extend through slot means in the vertical web of the longitudinal frame member, the tongues having oppositely projecting elements thereon engageable behind opposite edges of the slot means for retaining the transverse frame member with respect to the longitudinal frame member.

The present invention relates to a novel ceiling suspension system adapted to support a plurality of ceiling tiles and more specifically to novel frame members incorporated in such a system.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel ceiling suspension system having first or longitudinal frame members and second or transverse frame members constructed so that the second frame members may be easily and economically interconnected with the first frame members without undue turning or twisting of the frame members with respect to each other and without requiring special tools or auxiliary fastening devices.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a novel frame structure for a ceiling suspension of the above described type wherein frame members are securely interconnected with each other in a manner providing relatively great resistance to disconnection in the event the frame members become warped or bent during a fire or for any other reason.

A still more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel ceiling suspension system having first or longitudinal frame members and second or transverse frame members of economical and rugged construction wherein the second or transverse frame members have pairs of oppositely offset tongues with oppositely outwardly projecting barbs or hook elements adapted to be inserted through slot means in the first frame member for engaging the hook elements behind opposite edges of the slot means for preventing subsequent disengagement regardless of relative twisting between the frame members, the tongues being further offset so that two transverse frame members may be positioned at opposite sides of the longitudinal member with the tongues thereof projecting in overlapping relationship through the same slot means.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view showing frame members incorporating features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the frame members of FIG. 1 in assembled relationship;

' FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the transverse frame member incorporating features of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a transverse Patented Sept. 20, 1971 frame member incorporating features of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 in FIG. 2.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, a ceiling suspension system incorporating features of the present invention comprises a plurality of first or longitudinal frame members 10, only one of which is shown, and second or transverse frame members 12. As will be understood, that longitudinal frame members 10 are adapted to'be suspended by any suitable means such as wire hangers, not shown, and the transverse frame members are interconnected to .and supported by the longitudinal members in the manner described more in detail below. The frame members are arranged to provide a grid frame structure which is adapted to support any desired ceiling tile or panel.

The first or longitudinal frame member 10 has an upstanding or substantially vertical longitudinally extending web portion 16 and oppositely extending lower marginal flanges 1-8 and 20. The flanges project laterally outwardly for presenting shelves on which edges of ceiling tiles, not shown, and the like are adapted to rest. An upper margin of the web portion 16 merges with an enlargement or head 22 which strengthens and rigidifies the frame member.

In the embodiment shown, the frame member 10 is formed by rolling a piece of sheet metal so that the web portion 16 has a double thickness provided by web sections 24 and 26 respectively merging with the flanges 18 and 20. In order to cover the apparent seam between the flanges 18 and 20 at 28, a decorative strip 30' underlies the flanges and has margins 32 and 34 thereof bent up and over the flanges 18 and 20 for securing the parts in assembled relationship. Each of the second or transverse frame members 12 1s also constructed so as to include an upstanding or vertical longitudinally extending web portion 36 and oppositely extending lower marginal flanges 38 and 40. The transverse frame members are preferably formed from sheet metal so that the web portion 36 has a double thickness provided by web sections 42 and 44 respectively integrally joined to the flanges 38 and 40. Another decorative strip 46 covers the bottom surfaces of the flanges 38 and 40.

In accordance with features of the present invention novel means are provided for interconnecting the transverse frame members 12 with the longitudinal frame member 10. More specifically, the first pair of tongue members 48 and 50 is provided at one end of each frame member 12 and a second pair of essentially identical but oppositely disposed tongue members 52 and 54 is provided at the opposite end of each frame member 12. The tongues comprise a double thickness of the material from which the frame members are formed and are respectively joined to ends of the web portion 36 by connecting sections 56, 58, 60 and 62. The tongue members are adapted to be inserted through vertically extending or elongated slot means 64 in the web portions 16 of the frame member 10, which slot means comprises vertically aligned and spaced apart narrow slots 66 and 68 separated from each other by a divider element 70. The slot 66 is defined by opposite side edges 72 and 74 spaced apart a predetermined distance and the slot 68 is similarly defined by opposite side edges 76 and 78.

As shown in the drawings, the tongue members 48 and 50 are offset oppositely with respect to each other from a vertical plane containing the central axis of the frame member web portion 36. This arrangement is accom-- plished by forming the connecting sections 56 and 58 so that they extend diagonally in opposite directions from their respective junctions with the web portions. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, the connecting section 56 extends diagonally outward or laterally of the web section 44 while the connecting section 58 extends diagonally or laterally outwardly of the web section 42.

The tongue members 52 and 54 at the opposite end of each frame member 12 are similarly laterally offset in opposite directions with respect to a vertical central plane of the web portion 36 and this arrangement is accomplished by forming the connecting sections 60 and 62 so that they extend diagonally oppositely from integral junctions with the web portion 36. However, it is to be noted that the tongue members 52 and 54 are offset oppositely with respect to the tongue members 48 and 50 at the opposite end of the frame member. In other words, the upper tongue member 52 is located laterally outwardly from the web section 42 while the opposite upper tongue member 48 is disposed laterally outwardly of the web section 44. Conversely, the lower tongue member 54 is disposed laterally outwardly of the web section 44 while the lower tongue member 50 is disposed laterally outwardly of the web section 42.

The tongue members are respectively provided with oppositely laterally outwardly extending hook elements or barbs 80, 82, 84 and 86 adaptd to be snapped through the slot means in the frame member web portion for retaining the parts in assembled relationship. The opposite side edges of the slot means are spaced apart a distance which is similar to but slightly greater than the combined thickness of a pair of the tongue members. In other words, the width of the slot means is slightly greater than four times the thickness of the sheet material from which the frame members 12 are formed. At the same time the width of the slot means is less than the distance between a pair of parallel planes containing the outermost tips of the hook elements 80-86.

When assembling a ceiling suspension system incorporating the frame members of the present invention, the longitudinal frame members 10 are normally initially secured in position by hangers or other suitable devices. Then the transverse frame members are interconnected with the longitudinal frame member by inserting their respective tongues through the slot means 64. For example, the lefthand frame member 12 viewed in FIG. 1 may be installed first merely by shifting it longitudinally of its own axis so that the tongue members 48 and 50 are inserted in a straight line through the slots 66 and 68 then the righthand frame member 12 as viewed in FIG. 1 is similarly assembled with the longitudinal frame member 10. It is to be understood, that the longitudinal frame member 10 may be of considerable length and may have a plurality of the slot means 64 formed therein at desired space locations along its length. Of course, additional pairs of the second or transverse frame members 12, not shown, may be provided for connection with the longitudinal frame member 10 at the locations of each of such additional slot means.

When the transverse frame members are fully assembled with the longitudinal member, the upper tongues 48 and 52 overlap each other and the lower tongue members 50 and 54 overlap each other as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. While the double thickness of the overlapping tongues substantially fills the width of the slots, the fit is not tight and there is some clearance as shown in FIG. 5 so as to facilitate assembly. However, the hook or barb elements do engage behind opposite side edges of the slot means for preventing withdrawal of the tongue members. The barbs are struck from the tongue members and are formed with tapered or cam-like outer or leading ends whereby to promote inward deflection of the barbs during assembly so that the barbs may be snapped behind the web portion of the longitudinal frame member.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, inward movement of the tongue members through the slot means is limited by engagement of shoulder means or end edges 88 and 90 on the transverse members 12 with the longitudinal member. In the embodiment shown, the shoulder means or edge 88 is provided by ends of the flanges 38 and 40 which are adapted to engage the edge of the longitudinal frame member flange, and the shoulder or edge means 90 is provided by opposite end edges of the transverse frame member flanges. The arrangement is such that the spacing between the web engaging shoulders or edges of the barbs and 82 and a vertical plane containing the abutment or edge 88 is similar to but slightly greater than the distance between the outer surface of the web section 26 and the oppositely facing outer edge of the flange 18 together with the thickness of the decorative strip 30. The shoulders or edges of the barbs 80 and 86 are similarly spaced from the edge 90. Thus the barbs may be readily snapped through the slot means and axial] movement of the tongue through the slot means is limited so that outer free ends thereof stop short of the oppositely facing diagonally extending connecting sections and reinforcing ribs 92, 94, 96 and 98 which are formed in the web portions and at least partially traverse the diagonal connecting sections.

While the tongue members may be easily inserted through the slot means and fit relatively loosely therein when assembly has been completed, the structure is such that inadvertent disassembly is precluded. For example, since the barb 80 of the upper tongue member 48 engages behind one side edge of the slot means and the barb 82 of the lower tongue member 50 engages behind an opposite side edge of the slot means, any force which attempts to laterally shift or twist the transverse frame member in a manner which might tend to disengage the barb 80 from the edge of the slot means will at the same time cause the barb 82' to be more aggressively engaged behind the opposite edge of the slot means. It is also contemplated that this same action and benefit will be obtained even in instances where the tongue members of only a single transverse frame member are inserted through the slot means. It will further be observed that the upper and lower tongue members are vertically spaced from each other a distance which is similar to and slightly greater than the divider element 70 between the upper and lower slots 66 and 68. The divider is effective for engaging the tongue members and resisting any forces which may tend to bend the tongue members in a vertical plane as result of stresses imposed during the fire or for any other reason.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. In a ceiling suspension system, a first frame member including an upstanding web portion and laterally extending flange means projecting from a lower margin of said web portion, said web portion having slot means therein defined by opposite side edges spaced apart a predetermined distance, and a second frame member having an upstanding web section and laterally extending flange means at a lower margin thereof, said second frame member including first and second tongues integral with and extending longitudinally from said .web section for entering into said slot means, said first and second tongues being oppositely offset with respect to a central plane of said Web section whereby the tongues are respectively engageable with opposite side edges of the slot means, and elements projecting laterally outwardly from said first and second tongues for engaging behind the opposite side edges of the slot means and securing the second member with respect to the first member.

v 2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said first tongue is disposed above said second tongue.

3. A combination, as defined in claim 2, which includes a third frame member having an upstanding web section and laterally extending flange means at a lower margin thereof, said third member also including first and second tongues oppositely offset with respect to a central plane of said last mentioned web section and further oppositely offset with respect to the first and second tongues of said second frame member for enabling said tongues of the second and third frame members being inserted into said slot means with the first tongues of said second and third frame members overlapping each other and said second tongues of said second and third frame members overlapping each other, and elements extending laterally outwardly from said first and second tongues of said third frame member for engaging behind opposite edges of the slot means.

4. A combination, as defined in claim 3, wherein said second and third frame members include pairs of oppositely laterally extending connecting sections respectively connecting said tongues with said web sections, and shoulder means for engaging said first frame member and limiting entry of the tongues through the slot means for preventing engagement of the tongues of each of the second and third frame members with the connecting sections of the other of said second and third frame members.

5. A combination, as defined in claim 4, wherein the overlapping tongues of the second and third frame members have a combined thickness less than said predetermined distance between the spaced apart opposite side edges of the slot means.

6. A combination, as defined in claim 2, wherein said UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,193,063 7/1965 Brown et a1 52-667 3,290,075 12/1966 Jahn 287189.36A 3,350,125 10/1967 Adams 2187--1'89.36A 3,396,997 8/1968 Adams 2187189.36-A 3,399,915 9 /1968 Stanzak 287189.36A 3,501,135 3/1970 Brown et al. 287-189.36A

FOREIGN PATENTS 294,086 9/1969 Australia 2871-89.36A

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner W. L. SHEDD, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 5-2-667 

